The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-09-10

pressed wish AS in this instance? What
, has become of Democracy, 'sthe rule
OF the people," when such rank perso.
nalism as this Mercer appointment
goes unrebuked? We get the facts In
this instance from a gentleman who
knows them, but the people of Ciai-
bOr0Ae can doubtless make the matter
even more clear.
In order to appreciate fully this NIer-
Ger case, 1t must be remembered that
when Witkowski, the .tboss" of West
Carroll, Was shown to be an arch ras-
cal and II knave, who carried the ap-
potntmeats for his parish in his pocket,
the governor friends excused his blind
following of the requests of this crea-
ture Wttkowski by declaring that the
people Of West Carroll had sent him
as their representative, and that the
governor would naturally conclude
that he asked only for what his neopic
desired. Yet In this Claiborne parish
case ALL FOUR REPRESENTATIVES,
united In making single request, and
the governor ignored them! II Is a
poor rule that will not work both
ways. Wstwoskwi has all his requests
granted because he is q representative
ASNA eStASSSAAulANS1 VI NlUlUOIuO COulu
not secure the granting of one request!
1t makes great deal of difference who
the appoiniee Is and what is his back
ing; IL makes very little difference
what the people want.
We have given this case in detail to
show what we mean by personalism
Ia the state government, and to show
the fundamental objection to tho
longer continuance In power of tue
present administration. The charge
Of personalism Is no campaign war cry,
gotten up for the occasion, to be Gun
ployed for n season and then laid aside,
II Is a real tangible issue, upon which
the people should and viii pass judg,
fnent In this campaign.
The McEnery government Is honey.
combed with abuses all growing out
of the policy we have just mentioned.
There is the John McEuery land grab.
Il brother Of the executive fattening ut
the public crib, the largest individual
land owner In Louisiana there is tho
penitenttary ring, fastened. like bar,
nacle upon tho State treasury, and
carrying out the governors ievee poll
icy ut tho expense Of tho honest labor
OF the State, there are the deiaulting
tax collectors, moro than half OF them
at one time not having had u final set
ttement with the State as required by
law, there is the Strong steal existing
tor two years with the fu!i knowledge
OF the executive and not Il legal step
taken to protect the States Interests;
there Is the Easton educational grab,
where the parish school boards are ur-
ged by the state superintendent OF edu-
cation TO make eXhcrbitant contracts
to have collected thet which 1t Is the
duty Of the stnte superintendent to
disburse.
With all these abuses staring the
people in the face the present execu.
two comes to tho front and asks for u
third term. 1t seems preposterous,
but II Is true. After such conspicu.
GUS failure 10 keep things straight, II
would occur to the average man that
an executive would ask to be excused
from further service. But not so. A
third term Is sought, we presume, as
vindicatiop. And If Governor Nc
Emery is reelected, he promises n
repetition of what we have already had,
or this we think the people have had
enough, and we are convinced that
they VIII say so ht tho next Democratic
State convention.
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